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Add Sweetness to Your Day with Licorice
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a woody perennial native to parts of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean region. Licorice contains a compound called glycyrrhizin which is fifty times sweeter than table sugar. As such, this plant is commonly used in the food industry as an additive to baked goods, beverages, and various sweets. Licorice is also…
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Find Flavor with Blackstrap Molasses
Want to add some flavor to your cooking without adding a whole lot of sugar? Blackstrap molasses may be just the thing! The process of making black strap molasses is a bit involved. Typically, cane sugar (Saccharum officinarum) or sugar beets (Beta vulgaris) are processed several times in order to extract all of their sweetness;…
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Demystifying Menopause: Finding Facts and Ignoring Fiction
By the year 2025, there will be over one billion women in the world who are either menopausal or postmenopausal. These women are in the prime of their life, but some have been led to believe this natural stage of womanhood is a sign that their body is betraying them. Menopause is one of the…
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Bromelain, The Proteolytic Enzyme
Most people are familiar with pineapple (Ananas comosus), but did you know it contains proteolytic enzymes? These enzymes can break down proteins, and bromelain is one of these. Bromelain is considered pineapple’s most active constituent, and has been used as a medicine in some tropical and subtropical cultures where the plant grows. Discovered in the…
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Fascial Work to the Rescue!
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) is becoming more popular, especially with athletes. Despite being new on the scene (the first research paper wasn’t published until 1997), this technique has roots going back millenia. In ancient Greek and Roman times, a strigil, a small metallic instrument, was used for cleaning the body and working on…
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Sweet Potato and Spinach Frittata Recipe
Sweet potatoes add a lot of color and flavor to any dish. This sweet potato and spinach frittata is a must-have for an easy-to-make fiber-packed breakfast, and it freezes well for those who like to prepare their meals ahead of time. Prep: 15 Min. Cook: 20 Min. Total: 35 Min. Servings: 4 Ingredients Instructions References…
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The Miracle Elixir, Gotu Kola
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) has thousands of years of history behind it. It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for thousands of years and was considered one of the “miracle elixirs of life”. Gotu kola grows in parts of Asia, South Africa, and Eastern Europe, preferring more tropic, wet areas. Commonly used…
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Be Spinach Strong
Popeye the Sailor Man is a character developed in 1929 by Elzie Crisler Segar. Popeye was famous for eating spinach and becoming super strong whenever he ate a can of it. But, the humble roots of spinach began long before Popeye pushed it into the national light. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) can be dated back thousands…
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6 Natural Ways to Deal with Foot Pain
Suffering from foot pain? Statistically, you aren’t alone. In adults over the age of 45, it’s estimated that 20 – 25% can have foot/ankle pain. Dealing with pain of any kind can negatively impact day-to-day life, but foot pain affects every step you take. With musculoskeletal complaints being one of the most common reasons people…
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Phosphatidylserine for Your Mind
When the human brain gets older, it doesn’t work as efficiently as it used to. This is due to neuron loss, connections between the neurons deteriorating, lower synthesis of neurotransmitters (how neurons communicate), less sensitivity to certain neurotransmitters, and abnormal neuronal membranes. Phosphatidylserine is merely a molecule composed of lipids (fat) and phosphate. One of…
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